Feeler mechanism for looms



F. LACEY.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1919.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- J'JZ Van For F. LACEY.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I4, I9I9.

1,362,1 15, Patented Dec. 14, 1920. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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\20 HIIIIIIII M g $7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED LACEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed November 14, 1919. Serial No. 337,992.

T 0 allwhom it may concern:

e it known that I, FRED LAGEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of' Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in F eeler Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, s a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms, and more particularly to feeler mechanisms of the side swipe type, wherein upon substantial exhaustion of filling, the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle and effects replenishment of filling.

In the general type of feeler mechanlsms referred to, it has heretofore been proposed to provide spring means tending normally to move the feeler in a direction longltudinally of the shuttle, and in such case the feeler has been restrained from such movement by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof. The action of the spring or spring means in the feeler mechanisms referred to, has acted upon the feeler with substantially its entire energ from the time the feeler was engaged by the filling until, on the backward movement of the lay the feeler was disengaged therefrom. This action has not been altogether satisfactory, because the action of the spring means manifested itself suddenly with its full force as soon as the feeler enga ed the filling, and either the filling was liabIe to injury, or the feeler itself was liable to be improperly moved longitudinally of the filling and prior to substantial exhaustion thereof.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists of a controller for the feeler which, on each detecting beat of the lay is engaged and moved frontwardly by the shuttle and places progressively under tension a spring which acts upon the feeler and tends to move it in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. The

full force of the spring for effecting this movement of the feeler does not manifest itself at once on the beat-up movement of the lay, butprogressively increases until, at the critical period when filling should be replenished, provided filling is substantially exhausted, the spring exerts its greatest tension and becomes effective to move Specification of Letters Patent.

the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, provided filling is substantially exhausted.

In the practical development of this feature of the invention, the controller is normally held in its rearward position by a spring, and is preferably provided with a second lighter spring which acts upon an arm connected to the feeler. The second lighter spring is of the character to normally exert very little if any tendency of the feeler to move longitudinally of the shuttle, but as the controller moves front- Wardly, this spring becomes additionally tensioned to effectuate the desired movement of the feeler at the critical point.

The above and other features -of the inventlon and novel combination of parts will hereinafter be described in connection with one good practical embodiment of the invention, and then the invention will be defined by the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the feeler side of a loom embodying the present lnvention, only sufficient parts bemg shown as are necessary to make clear the invention and its associated parts;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the action of the feeler mechanism when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that 'of Fig. 2, showlng the parts in the position they assume when, on a detecting beat the filling is substantially exhausted; and

Fig. 4 is a detached detail sectionv on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2.

' The loom frame 1 has secured thereto the bearings 2, one at each side of the loom frame in which is mounted the transverse or rock shaft 3 of usual construction and from which rises the arm 4 having pivotally connectedat its upper end at 5 the latch 67 which is adapted to be movedfrontwardly attimes by an operating member, which in the present instance of the invention, consists of the follower or a part connected thereto as indicated at 7.

In the present instance of the invention, the operating member 7 has a slide 8 which engages in the correspondingly shaped guide 9 formed in the latch 6, and as the operating member 7 moves frontwardly and backwardl the slide 8 moves in the guideway 9. Movable transversely of the guideway 9 is a stop or bunter 10 which, when the feeler mechanism indicates presence of a working supply of filling in the shuttle, is maintained out of the path of movement of the slide 8, but when the feeler mechanism indicates substantial exhaustion of filling, is moved into the path of movement of the slide 8, to thereby efl'ect rocking movement of the transverse shaft 3 and replenishment of filling as usual in this class of machines.

The lay 11 may be of usual construction, and is provided with a shuttle-box 12, the front wall of which is provided with a slot 13 adapted to register with a corresponding slot or opening 14 in the adjacent wall of the shuttle 15 when the latter is in the detecting box, the construction being such that the feeler mechanism may enter the shuttle and detect 'the condition of filling therein on each detecting beat.

Mounted upon the loom frame 1 or the shipper stand 16 extending therefrom, is the bracket 17 which constitutes one good practical form of support for the feeler mechanism. The bracket 17 and the parts carried thereby may be adjusted transversely relative' to the loom frame by means of the bolt 18 which passes through the slot 19.

The upper portion of the bracket 17 is formed as a supporting surface 20, and to the bracket 17 is pivotally mounted the feeler. The feeler may be variously formed, but in the present instance of the invention, it comprises a primary member or portion 21. which is connected to the bracket 17 by the pivot pin 22. The primary member 21 extends rearwardly as at 23, and is provided with the elongated slot 24. The secondary portion of the feeler consists of the rearwardly extending arm 25 which may be adjustably connected to the primary portion 21 by the adjusting bolt 26.- The under head portion 27 of the adjusting bolt is countersunk into the lower surface of the member 25 and offers no obstruction to free movement of the member 25 over the surface of the bracket 17. The pivot pin 22 may be variously formed, but in the .present instance, as shown, consists of the shouldered portion 28 on which is mounted the primary member 21 and a portion 29 of less diameter extending through the bracket 17 at the under surface. of which the parts may be properly set up by clamping means such as the nut 30.

The secondary portion 25 of the feeler extends rearwardly and is provided with the guide flanges 31 and 32 through which.

passes the feeler finger 33, the rear end portion of which is provided with ,a roughened or toothed surface 34 for engagement with the filling in the shuttle 15 as indicated in Fig. 2. A spring 35, one end of which bears against the flange 31', and

-troller support 37 to the bracket 17.

the other end of which bears against a pin 36 on the other shouldered portion of the feeler finger, acts normally to hold the feeler finger in its rearward portion substantially as indicated in Fig. 1. The spring 35 may be light and of just sufficient strength to cause the teeth 34 of the feeler finger to sink into the filling and thereby prevent movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat.

Mounted on the bracket 17 is a controller carrying plate 37. Screws 38 may be employed for adjustably conne'ctingthe 9191111- e controller support 37 extends rearwardly from the bracket 17 and is provided with the rear and front guide flanges 39 and 40 respectively, through which extends the controller 41. The guides 39 and 40 may be variously contrived, but in the present instance, they are conyeniently formed as upwardly projecting lugs rising from the controller support 37. A spring 42 serves,to hold the controller 41 normally in its rearward position as indicated in Fig. 1, and in the present instance, the spring 42 has its front portion bearing against the lug 40 and its rear portion against the shoulder or pin 43- secured to the controller, the construction being such that normally the spring 42 will move the controller rearwardly and return it to rearward position after it has been moved frontwardly and the lay moves back.

One of the primary features of the present invention consists in providing the light spring which shall be tensioned by the front Ward movement of the controller to exert its progressively increasing tension on the feeler tending to move it in a direction lon-' gitudinally of the shuttle, and eifecting such movement only, when the filling has been substantially exhausted. The feeler controller therefore, is extended rearwardly into position to engage the front wall 44 of the shuttle on each detecting beat, the controller 41 will be engaged and moved frontwardly by the advancing shuttle, and will thereby progressively place under tension the spring 45 which, acting through the arm 47, will tend to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle with progressively increasing force as the spring 45 is compressed.

Should a Working supply of filling be present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the tension spring 45 will be held from exercising its described function of moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, because the teeth 34 will be engaged with the filling and prevent such movement. Should, however, the filling be substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the teeth 34 will no longer be able to resist movement of the feeler longitudinally ofthe shuttle under the impulse of the spring 45 as indicated in Fig. 3, and the feeler will be moved longitudinally of the shuttle on the detecting beat when filling is substantially exhausted. In order that thefeeler may be returned to its proper feeling position as indicated in Fig. 2, after an indication of substantial exhaustion, the controller is provided with a stop or shouldered portion49 which is adapted to engage the front portion of the laterally extending arm 47 as the controller moves rearwardly, and thereby return the feeler to its proper feeling position as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The feelermay be connected to the slide or bunter 10 to project it into the path of the slide 8 when the feeler is moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle upon substantial exhaustion of filling. This transmission of movement may be variously contrived, but in the present instance, it is effected through a rod or transmitter 50, one end of which is connected to the slide or bunter 10, and the other end to a lug 51 connected to the feeler.

In the present instance of the invention, the laterally extending arm 47 is preferably bifurcated as indicated in Fig. 1, and through the bifurcation thereof the front end portion of the controller 41 extends, the spring 45 bearing upon the rear side of the arm 47, and the stop or pin 49 being adapted to bear upon the front side of said arm, when the parts are in normal position as indicated in Fig. 1.

What is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for move ment in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, a controller movable independently of the feeler and arranged to be engaged and moved frontwardly by engagement with a wall of the shuttle on each detecting beat, a spring tensioned by frontward movement of the controller under the frontward pressure of theshuttle and connections between the spring and feeler tending to cause movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the spring is placed undertension by the controller.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement in a direction lon itudinally of the shuttle and held from suc movement by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a controller arranged to be engaged and moved frontwardly by the shuttle on each detecting beat, an arm extending laterally from the feeler, a spring tensioned by frontward movement of the controller and acting through said arm to move the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement by en gagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof,-a controller arranged to be engaged and moved frontwardly by the shuttle on each detecting beat, a spring mounted in the controller, an arm extending laterally from the feeler and engaged by the spring for moving the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, an independently mounted feeler controller adapted to be engaged by the shuttle on each detecting beat, and a yielding connection between the controller and feeler placed under tension by frontward movement of the controller and tending to impart to the feeler movement longitudinally of the shuttle on each detecting beat.

5. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of the lay, a shuttle, a frontwardly movable controller arranged to be engaged and moved frontwardly by the wall of the shuttle on each detecting beat, an independently mounted feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle, and connections between the feeler and controller which tend to move the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle due to the frontward movement of the controller, and means for effecting replenishment of filling.

6. In a feeler mechanism forlooms, the combination of a feeler, a support on which the feeler is mounted'for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, an independently mounted controller arranged to be moved frontwardly on each detecting beat by engagement-with the shuttle, a spring normally acting to hold the controller in its rearward position independently of the feeler, and a second and lighter spring placed under tension by frontward movement of the controller and tending to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a support on which the feeler is mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a controller arranged to be moved frontwardly on each detecting beat by engagement with the shuttle, a spring normallyacting to hold the controller in its rearward position, an arm extending from the feeler, a second and lighter spring acting upon said 'arm and placed under tension by frontward movement. of the controller for moving the feeler in a direction longitudinally of"the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler pivotally mounted to swing in a direction longitudinally of the shuttleand held from such movement by engage-ment with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a controller mounted to engage and be moved frontwardly by the shuttle on each detecting beat, a light spring placed under tension by frontward movement of the controller, and an arm connected to the feeler and against which the light spring bears as the controller is moved frontwardly to effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when filling is substantially exhausted.

9, In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler pivotally mounted to swing in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a controller mounted to engage and be moved frontwardly by the shuttle on each detecting beat, a light spring placed under tension by frontward move ment of the controller, an arm connected to the' feeler and against which the light spring bears as the controller is moved frontwardly to effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when filling is substantially exhausted, and means acting upon the arm to restore the feeler to feeling position as the controller moves rear- 'Wardly.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a support, a feeler mounted on said support and comprising a pivotally mounted primary member, a secondary member adjustably connected to the primary member, and a feeler finger mounted on the secondary member, a controller arranged to be moved frontwardly by the shuttle on each detecting beat, a spring tensioned by frontward movement of the con.-

troller and tending to move the feeler in a FRED LAOEY, 

